Grandmas against the right: Prignitz women fight for tolerance and respect

Grandmas against the right: Prignitz women fight for tolerance and respect

An initiative has emerged in Prignitz that clearly positions itself against advancing right-wing populism. Ute Winkler, 60 years old, has had a worrying feeling of change in society for a year. When faced with a meeting of right-wing politicians who were planning to deport refugees, she didn't want to sit idly by and looked for a way to take action. This is how she came across the “Grandmas Against the Right” initiative. But there were no local groups in their area - the nearest ones were in Potsdam and Wendland. The Prignitzer Group was finally founded at a demonstration in Perleberg in January 2023.

Seven women were already present at the first meeting in March 2025, and the goal of this movement is clear: to stand up against right-wing populism and for respectful coexistence. Kathrin Schmidt, 58, wants to make the group more visible and appeal to as many people as possible, while Annette Flade, 75, is confronted with a lot of approval at events despite her old age.

Strong together against exclusion

The members of the group are primarily women, a peculiarity that also goes back to the international movement “Grandmas Against the Right,” which was launched in Austria in 2017 and imported to Germany in 2018. Loud Deutschlandfunk The initiative already brings together over 30,000 active supporters in Germany. The activists are often motivated by personal experiences with fascism and the desire to set an example for their grandchildren. The group's goal is to educate people about the importance of voting, especially in view of the growing AfD and its right-wing developments.

Ulrike Winkler, another member of the Prignitz group, has also recognized that the language that young people use has changed and fears have increased. Such changes drive the group to meet regularly to share and strengthen each other. The challenges in rural areas, such as reaching events, are also topics that concern the group. It meets once a month alternately in Wittenberge or Perleberg.

Concern about right-wing developments

One of the group's main concerns is to be heard not only by like-minded people, but also by AfD voters. Annette Flade expresses concerns that an increasingly right-wing mood in society could mean that opinions can no longer be freely expressed. Global Policy highlights that right-wing populist parties often use women's rights to advance a racist agenda, and it is important for members of "Grandmas Against the Right" to take a stand against such developments.

Exciting projects are already planned for the coming year: readings at schools will help gain even more visibility, and a bike tour will be organized to reach new places and promote conversations about tolerance and respect. Flade emphasizes that the women are not interested in dividing people, but rather in building bridges and starting conversations. At one of the next events, Winkler would like additional active participants to help the group at the stand.